Semicollapsible metallic tube



Feb. 9, 1932. w. e. EDWARDS SEMICOLLAPSIBLE METALLIC TUBE Filed March 21, 1930 gwuzntoi WiZZz'am G. Edwards,

Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES WILLIALK GEORGE mwanns, OF RENQ, NEVA SEMICOLLAISIBLE METALLIC TUBE Application filed March 21, 1930. enial No. 437,917.

The invention relates to a semi-collapsible metallic tube.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of collapsible tubes 5 for containing fluent material and to provide a simple, practical and efiicient semi-collapsible metallic tube of strong, durable and comparatively inexpensive construction ada ted to present exteriorly the appearance 0 an 10 ordinary collapsible tube and having the walls of the tube throughout the entire length of the body of the tube at one side or face thereof of a solid material such as tin, lead or like non-collapsible material and the opposite half or face of thin collapsible material, which will permit the tube to be compressed or collapsed laterally on the stifi noncollapsible wall and allow a smooth and uniform discharge of the contents of the'tube with a minimum distortion thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a semi-collapsible metallic tube of this character which will keep its longitudinal shape throughout its entire use until empty, and thereby provide the user with a heater and more sanitary tube than the ordinary collapsible tube and at the same time enable the entire contents of the tube to be used.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, and set forth in the claims hereto appende it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Inthe drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a semicollapsible tube constructed in accordance with this invention and partly broken away to show the wall stiflening member.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the semi-collapsible tube.

Fig. 3 is a erspective view of the wall stifiening mem er, the tube being shown in dotted lines.

In the accompanying drawings in which are illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates a metallic collapsible tube designed to contain tooth paste, shaving cream, or any other fluent material in the form of a liquid or paste. The collapsible tube 1, which is of the ordinary form in construction, is tapered at one end at 2 to a neck 3 which is threaded on the usual manner to receive a screw cap 4.

The semi-collapsible tube may be formed either by thickening one of the walls of the tube to stifien the same and render such wall non-collapsible, or the non-colla sible wall may be stiflened by a wall stifi ning member 5 of suitable metal. In Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings, the non-colla sible wall is formed by the stifiening mem er 5 which conforms to the configuration of one half of the body of the tube 1 and which is fitted preferably against the inner face of the front wall of the tube 1, but the wall stifi'ening member which is arranged interiorly of the tube to enable the same to present a smooth unbroken exterior, may, of course, be fitted against and suitably secured to the rear wall of the tube to enable the tube to be collapsed from the front instead of the back. The tube 1 is closed at the lower end 6 remote from the top or cap in the ordinary manner b folding the material of the tube on itselt and securing the fold in any desired manner to prevent leakage or escape of the contents of the tube. The wall stifi'ening member 5 is semi-circular in cross section throughout the major portion ot'its length and the lower end 7 is slightly flattened and thereb spread to conform to the configuration o the lower portion of the tube adjacent the closed end 6 thereof.

The wall stifi'ening member 5 may simply be placed against the inner face of either the front or rear wall of the tube and it will be retained against the wall by the contents of the tube when the tube is filled. Also, any positive means may be employed for securing the wall stifienmg member to either the front or rear wall of the-tube and the flattening and spreading of the lower end of the wall stiffening member will also serve to retain the wall stiffening member in proper position as such spreading of the lower end by conforming to the configuration of the tube will tend to prevent any displacement of the tube.

V What is claimed is 2-- 1. A semi-collapsible metallic tube of the ordinary form presenting a smooth unbroken exterior and comprising a thin collapsible tube, and a wall stiffening member arranged interiorly of the said tube contiguous to one of the walls thereof andbeing substantially semi-circular throughout the major portion -of its length, one end portion of the said member being flattened and spread to conform to the configuration of the adjacent portion of the tube, said member stiffening the contiguous wall of the tube and render ing the same non-collapsible to permit the opposite wall of the tube to be collapsed against it. i

2. A semi-collapsible metallic tube presenting a smooth unbroken exterior and comprising a tube of thin material, and a wall stiffenmg member arranged interiorly of the tube and conforming to the configuration of I one of the walls to permit the opposite wall prising of the tube to collapse against the same with out collapsing the stiffened wall.

7. A semi-collapsible metallic tube of the ordinary form presenting a smooth unbroken exterior and closed at one end and having a tapered portion at the opposite .end, and

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setv my hand.

WILLIAM GEORGE EDWARDS.

3. A semi-collapsible metallic tube presenting a smooth unbroken exterior and coma tube of thin material, and a wall stiifenlng member substantiall in cross section and arranged interiorly of the tube and conforming to the configuration of one of the walls to permit the opposite wall of the tube to collapse against the same without collapsing the stifiened wall.

4. A semi-collapsible metallic tube presenting a smooth unbroken exterior and comprising a tube of thin material, and a wall stifi'ening member having a widened lower portion and arranged interiorly of the tube and conforming to the configuration of one of the walls to permit the opposite wall of the tube to collapse against the same without collapsing the stifiened wall.

5. A semi-collapsible metallic tube presenting a smooth unbroken exterior and comprisin a tube of thin material, and a wall stiffenmg member arranged interiorly of the tube contiguous to one of -the walls thereof and curved in cross section to fit the same and having a flattened and widened lower end.

6. A semi-collapsible metallic tube presenting a smooth unbroken exterior and comprising a tube of thin material, and a wall stiffening member arranged interiorly of the tube contiguous to one of the walls thereof and curved in cross section to fit the same and having a flattened and widened lower end, the flattened and widened lower end being secured within the closed end of the tube. 

